E80E: Ethics for Computer Engineers
 
CE80E. Ethics for Computer Engineers. S  Examines ethical theories and
analysis and their application to issues in the practice of engineering,
such as safety and liability, professional responsibility to clients and
employers, codes of ethics, legal obligations, environmental issues, and
social issues.  Emphasis is on developing independent ethical analysis
through the use of case studies.


Required Skills to pass the course:

1. Should be able to critically read and analyze written information,
   including:
   a. Critically read descriptions and data for biased information.
   b. Analyze the information in a written description to identify the
   factual issues and conceptual issues, determine the obligations and
   responsibilities of the actors, assess the relevant ethical values.
   c. Based on the ethical analysis, propose possible solutions using
   an articulated ethical position/theory.
   2. Should be able to produce documents for engineers, engineering
   managers, and other specialized audiences.
   a. Ability to produce a document with correct grammar and
   punctuation and well-formed sentences in appropriate paragraph form.
   b. Ability to produce a well-organized and readable document
   c. Ability to produce a document for a specific audience or
   audiences


Core topics (must be taught)
1. Ethical Theories and Analysis
   a. Virtue Ethics
   b. Conceptual Ethics
   c. Material Ethics
2. Safety, risk, and liability
3. Professionalism
   a. Responsibility to clients
   b. Responsibility to employers
4. Codes of Ethics
   a. ACM
   b. IEEE
5. Legal Obligations
   a. Whistle blowing
   b. Intellectual Property
   c. Professional Integrity
6. Environmental Ethics
7. Social Impact of Technology

Optional topics 
1. Engineering and Sustainable Development


Text: 
Harris, Charles E., Pritchard, Michael S., and Rabins, Michael J.
"Engineering Ethics: Concepts and Cases", Wadsworth Publishing, 2000.
This text bridges the gap between theory and practice in engineering
ethics. The authors provide cases studies; structured methodology for
analyzing cases; and examples of cases that have been analyzed. Codes of
Ethics are also provided and discussed.  

Possible Alternative Texts:
Gunn, Alastair S. and Vesilind, Aarne P., "Hold Paramount: The
Engineer's Responsibility to Society", Brooks/Cole, 2003.  New text;
review copy requested.